Western Erie County / DWCO Randy LeightonConditions:The tribs remain high and nicely colored with good flow. Fish are scattered and are as far south as the McKean Hole on Elk the Millcreek Mall on Walnut. The best action is now upstream for the most part with lower Elk being hit or miss. Fish are scattered on Crooked Creek and the angling pressure is light. Cold temperatures have reduced the crowds and the locals know that as long as the ice holds off, December can provide some of the best Steelhead angling of the season. Sucker spawn and egg imitations in peach, pink, white and red have been hot. Shiners and skein have also been working well. The Walnut Basin has been productive with anglers having success with small spoons and spinners and the Power baits in chartreuse and pink. The lakeshore at Trout Run, when calm, is still giving up good numbers of fish and will probably continue to be good as long as the ice holds off.

Law Enforcement:Officers continue to apprehend poachers and snaggers in spite of the all the recent publicity and arrests. Numerous citations have been issued for greedy anglers trying to keep more then the allowable limit. Recent clean up activities at both Elk and Walnut Creeks have yielded back to excessive litter. Be mindful to leave the tribs with everything you brought with you. Officers will continue to have a zero tolerance policy on littering.

License Sales:2003 Fishing licenses will go on sale at most outlets on December 1st and can be displayed legally upon purchasing. Pennsylvania fishing licenses make great holiday gifts for spouses, retirees, and youngsters turning 16. Erie Steelhead fishing continues to expand its reputation as a world class fishery. Non resident licenses have been purchased locally by anglers from Australia, Canada, Mongolia, South Africa, Japan, Montana, Colorado, California, and many other states.

Perch Notice:Perch size limit goes to 7" effective December 1st throughout March 31st for Lake Erie and Presque Isle Bay.

Hunting Season (worth repeating)With hunting season upon us and deer season right around the corner, anglers are reminded that wearing some type of bright clothing especially in the remote areas of the tribs will help keep you out of hunters sights. There is no special rule or regulation on this but a little blaze orange makes good sense in any wooded area this time of year. Many of the upper areas of Elk Crooked Creeks run through prime hunting areas.

WCO Tom Edwards / Central Erie CountyWednesday: Scattered flurries and snow showers. Temperatures steady in the low 30s. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 30%.Wednesday night: Mostly cloudy. Some flurries or snow showers are possible. Low 21F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 30%.Thursday: Off and on snow flurries are possible along with variably cloudy skies. High 32F. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of snow 20%.Thursday (24 hours): Cloudy with flurries. Highs in the low 30s and lows in the upper 20s.Friday (24 hours): Mostly cloudy with snow showers. Highs in the upper 30s and lows in the low 30s.Saturday (24 hours): Snow showers. Highs in the upper 30s and lows in the low 30s.

Recall...In cooperation with the U.S. Coast Guard, American Honda Motor Co., Inc. of Torrance, CA, is voluntarily recalling 2002 ARX1200T3 and ARX1200N3 AquaTrax personal watercraft (PWCs). PROBLEM: Corrosion may develop in the fuel injection system's throttle bodies. This could interfere with the throttle shaft's normal rotation and cause the throttle to stick in an open position. This corrosion is more likely to occur if the PWC is used in salt water - especially if overturned or submerged longer than a few minutes - and not cleaned or maintained following use.

INCIDENTS/INJURIES: There have been no reported accidents or injuries.

WHAT TO DO: Consumers should stop using these PWCs immediately and contact their local Honda AquaTrax dealer to schedule an appointment for an inspection and free repair. The dealer will install a new throttle body updated with enhanced anticorrosion properties.

Consumers should not operate their AquaTrax until it has been repaired.

For more information or if you need assistance locating a Honda AquaTrax dealer, please call Honda Customer Support toll-free at 866-784-1870, Monday through Friday 7:00AM TO 5:00PM Pacific Time. You may also return to the www.hondamotorcycle.com Home Page and click on "Find A Dealer" to locate your nearest AquaTrax dealer.

New World Record Miami, FL; (MCNW) Bombardier Recreational Products, makers of Sea-Doo watercraft, salutes Mr. Alvaro de Marichalar of Spain who successfully made the first crossing of the Atlantic Ocean on a personal watercraft, riding a Bombardier Sea-Doo XP watercraft. Mr. de Marichalar left Italy on February 23, 2002 to reach Miami on Saturday, June 22, at 11 am. He was greeted at the Miami Beach Marina by various local Sea-Doo watercraft dealers, local media and various members of Bombardier Recreational Products staff based in Florida."This is a great achievement and a fabulous demonstration of courage and endurance by Mr. de Marichalar," said Michel Hade, Vice President, International Sales and Marketing, Bombardier Recreational Products. Mr. Hade went on to say, "Bombardier is proud to be associated with this event which will help finance different Spanish organizations fighting drugs and poverty around the world."

Throughout most of his journey, Alvaro navigated 12-14 hours a day, most of the time standing up. A support ship with a six-man crew followed him from a distance and aided him with the maintenance of his watercraft. A life raft, constructed by Aquarium of Barcelona and equipped with a special ultrasonic device to keep sharks away (developed by Doctor Gruber of the University of Miami) became his "home" on the sea. Sleeping under such extreme conditions was most certainly one of the hardest aspects of the adventure. In order to prepare, Alvaro spent the month of September living on the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Mallorca. In addition, he spent two months training eight hours a day to gain 40 pounds, to compensate for the weight he would lose on his journey.

Alvaro de Marichalar's passion for the sea and watercraft began in 1982. His nineteen years of navigation have earned him six sailing world records between 1992 and 1999. Now in 2002, he sets another world record on a Bombardier watercraft provided by Bombardier Recreational Products' distributor Jets Marivent located in Barcelona, Spain.

Mandatory Boater Ed ??? On November 12, the Senate Game and Fisheries Committee approved legislation establishing a new mandatory boater education program for the Commonwealth. Senate Bill 463 was sponsored by Senator Richard A. Kasunic with strong bipartisan co-sponsorship. The bill will, if enacted, require operators of most motorboats born after January 1, 1982, to complete a boating safety course and have a boating safety certificate before running their boats on Pennsylvania waters. The new requirement would take effect on January 1, 2003. Operators of unpowered boats and boats powered by motors less than 25 horsepower would not be required to get certificates. Senate Bill 463 provides for a $10 fee for issuance of a boating safety certificate, good for a lifetime, and a $5 certificate replacement fee. “The Fish and Boat Commission knows that boater safety education works, and Senate Bill 463 is an important step forward,” said Fish and Boat Commission Executive Director Peter A. Colangelo. “I want to thank Senator Kasunic, Chairman Ed Helfrick and the members of the Senate Game and Fisheries Committee for their persistence and foresight in pursuing this legislation,” Colangelo added. Nearly 200,000 Pennsylvanians already possess boating safety education certificates. Since 1999, when the Fish and Boat Commission required operators of personal watercraft to obtain certificates, about 115,000 certificates have been issued. “Many boaters have taken safety courses and obtained certificates in an effort to become better informed and safer boaters,” noted John Simmons, Director of the Bureau of Boating and Education. “In fact, many of those taking courses were not doing so to meet requirements to operate personal watercraft such as jet skis, but in response to a sincere desire to become better boaters,” Simmons added. “The Fish and Boat Commission is confident that, if Senate Bill 463 becomes law, boaters who need to take courses and earn certificates will be able to do so before the 2003 boating season,” Colangelo stated. “It’s easier than ever to find and take a boating safety course. We offer distance learning and home study alternatives through the Internet and video courses, and many classroom boating courses are offered during the winter months,” Colangelo concluded. In order to become law, Senate Bill 463 will need to pass the State Senate and State House during the remaining days of the fall 2002 legislative session.

EASTERN-ERIE/WESTERN-WARREN COUNTIES / WCO Mark Kerr...UPPER 20-MILE ACCESS QUESTIONS: Since last week's report regarding anglers' fishing the 'Snakehole'area of Twentymile, I have received some questions on access... Hopefully,this will answer the majority of those queries posed. That area immediately to the south of the SR 20 railroad tracks isstill posted against trespass/fishing. However, this stretch of waterextends for only a short distance upstream of the 'tubes'. Anglers canstill access the 20-mile gorge by parking along the west berm immediatelyafter the second set of tracks on Gulf Road (please DON'T park in thevineyard!). These tracks are approximately 1/4 mile south of the firstset, which are immediately south of SR 20. Trespass is forbidden over therailroad trestle in this area; however, there is a path which extends southalong the west rim of the gorge. This path allows the 'careful' angler togain foot traffic access to the upper reaches of Twentymile, extending wellinto the State of New York. It's a long way to the bottom of the gorge, sowatch your step!! Fishing pressure is generally light in this area, as thewalk to the bottom (or, more importantly, the walk back to the top!!) isnot for everybody. By this time of year, steelhead have, through theconvenience of several significant precipitation's, generally been able toconquer the 'falls' under SR 20 and have moved well into New York. Concentrations of steelhead will not be as numerous as those witnessedbetween the lakeshore and the 'iron bridge' south of SR 5, but they arethere; and, more importantly, these fish haven't received quite the'intense' angling pressure as their counterparts to the north. If you havea New York fishing license take it with you, as some of the best holes forsteelhead activity, at this time of year, are more than a mile into ourneighboring state. Good luck and good fishin'!!

EAST COUNTY TRIBUTARY UPDATES: Welcomed precipitation, taking the form of 'white-out' conditions, on11-22-02 have substantially increased the volume occurring within the Erietribs. As of Sunday morning (11-24-02), most east county tributaries wererunning high, swift and just a touch off-color. However, these streamshistorically drop back to 'enjoyable' fishing conditions in relativelyshort order. If we don't receive any more heavy precipitation, thesestreams will be at 'peak' conditions by no later than the first of theweek. Additionally, this newest round of precipitation should increase thelevel of steelhead activity within the east county tributaries. Areas of steelhead concentrations:20-mile-- Fish are scattered throughout the stream. Mostanglers concentrate on the stretch from the mouth through just south of SR 5; however, don't overlook the lesser hit sections at Hirtzel's, I-90, GulfRoad and just over into New York State.16-mile-- Heaviest concentrations occur from the mouth through the intersection of SR 5 & SR 89. 12-mile-- Historically, the falls immediately south of SR 5 keep all angling pressure confined from this area north to the lake shore. 8-mile-- Only ever see one, two or three anglers playing on this stream and 99.9% are within 50 yards +/- of the mouth.7-mile-- Access is by 'walk-in-only', by parking on SR 5and 'hoofing' it through the Glinodo Center property. Fall steelhead fishing activity is present; however, it appears that the best runs come in the Spring.4-mile-- Biggest concentrations are present from thefootbridge at the Lawrence Park Golf Course through the mouth, with the best opportunity occurring at the large pool just south of the lake shore. DON'T scale the fence of the Lawrence Park Hunting/Fishing Club property. Access to the east side of the mouth hole can be attained by simply walking immediately to the south of the fence and following the east bank.

THANKS TO ALL FOR A JOB WELL DONE: As I'm sure many of you are aware, we've had some fairly 'highprofile' apprehensions in the last month. Now that we seem to be getting alittle breather, we thought it would be appropriate to take a few momentsand list all those field officers' involved with these incidents. If itwasn't for their participation, dedication, motivation, coordination andteamwork, these apprehensions could not have occurred as they did. WCO(s) Bowser [Erie], Evancho [Westmoreland], Kerr [Erie] andWheeler [Allegheny] DWCO(s) Brendley (1013-Erie), D'Ottavio (2028-Allegheny), English(1014-Erie), Gustafson (1015- Erie), Leighton (1014-Erie), McDowell (1014-Erie), McSkimming (1015-Erie), Scholtz (1014-Erie) and Suchocki (1013-Erie) PSP- Girard Barracks & US Border Patrol (Buffalo, NY) Thanks folks, for a job well done!!

'FISHERIE' DISCUSSION BOARD [RE: 16-MILE POLLUTION]: Just took a look at the discussion board and noticed a threadregarding subject. As Conservation officers', we share the same concernsregarding pollution as many of you. In regards 16-mile and the problemswhich the North East Municipal Treatment Plant (NEMTP) has historicallyspawned, here's a little background that may help to alleviate a fewconcerns. Short and sweet, it's this... Enforcement agencies as well asNorth East are painfully aware of the problems associated with pollutionentering 16-mile. NEMTP is under strict monitoring of effluent from itssite, through DEP. Any breech of allowable effluent totals/loads areimmediately subject to penalties; and these totals are recorded andreviewed on a regular basis. Don't take this to mean that unpermitted discharges can't occur; theycan and, sometimes, do. If anyone notices any discharge which they feel tobe 'out of the norm', your are encouraged to contact either the Erie CountyDepartment of Health or this office. Both agencies work in closecooperation, and will conduct investigations regarding these concerns.

The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) and the United State Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) today announced a cooperative agreement to raise 100,000 adult trout annually over the next five years at the Allegheny National Fish Hatchery in Warren. The brook trout raised under this program will be stocked in Pennsylvania waters designated by the PFBC, including those in the Allegheny National Forest. Joining PFBC Executive Director Peter Colangelo at today’s signing were Dr. Rick Bennett and Dr. Jaimie Geiger, of the US Fish and Wildlife Service Northeast Regional Office and Fred Griffiths, the manager of the Allegheny National Fish Hatchery. Under the terms of the agreement, signed at the PFBC’s headquarters in Harrisburg, the USFWS will begin raising approximately 100,000 brook trout at the Allegheny National Fish Hatchery, with the first stocking of adult trout to take place in the spring of 2004. In return, the PFBC will compensate the USFWS for its operational costs, provide fish feed and arrange for stocking of the fish. The agreement runs through September of 2007, but can be renewed for a longer period if agreed to by both agencies. "The priorities for the Fish and Wildlife Service in this region focus on our people, partners and promoting our natural resources," said Dr. Mamie A. Parker, the Service’s Northeast Regional Director. "I am proud of this successful partnership with Pennsylvania. A vacant part of a hatchery will be put to good use – to raise brook trout to benefit the public." The Commission intends to use the fish produced at the Allegheny National Fish Hatchery primarily in waters that flow through federal lands within Pennsylvania, including the Allegheny National Forest. Doing so will allow the Commission to utilize more of the adult trout raised at Commonwealth-owned hatcheries in other waters across the state. The Commission annually stocks more than 4,700 miles of streams and rivers along with some 121 lakes with adult trout. While the addition of fish from the Allegheny National Hatchery won’t necessarily impact the amount of waters the PFBC stocks, it will increase the total number of adult trout available for the statewide stocking program. In 2002, decreases in the amount of water available at state fish hatcheries coupled with the Commission’s management plan to reduce effluent discharged from its facilities led the agency to cut the number of adult trout produced from 5.2 million to 3.9 million. The PFBC will stock an estimated 4.1 million adult trout in 2003. "Pennsylvania offers excellent fishing opportunities for a wide variety of species such as Smallmouth and largemouth bass, muskellunge, walleye and striped bass. But for many Pennsylvania anglers, the fish they prize most is trout. We are fortunate in Pennsylvania to have robust wild trout populations, but for many waters natural reproduction alone is not enough to support recreational angling. That’s where stocking comes into play," said PFBC Executive Director Peter A. Colangelo. "With the need to reduce the number of adult trout produced at state hatcheries, we’ve been working to identify other opportunities to meet the demand by Pennsylvania anglers for trout stockings. From the time I first approached the Fish and Wildlife Service earlier this year, Fred Griffiths, Dr. Parker and the National Director of the Fish and Wildlife Service, Steve Williams, have all been very supportive of a joint project and I greatly appreciate their efforts to bring this agreement to reality. This cooperative venture furthers the mission of both agencies and will provide a tangible benefit to Pennsylvania’s trout anglers." The PFBC operates 14 state-owned fish culture stations across Pennsylvania; eight are involved in trout production. Faced with limited funding to upgrade the facilities – some of which are more than 100 years old – the Commission under Colangelo’s leadership has been exploring alternatives for its adult trout stocking programs. In addition to the cooperative agreement with the USFWS, the PFBC is currently exploring the feasibility of purchasing trout from private commercial growers and is pursuing a pilot project to raise trout in a hatchery utilizing treated abandoned mine drainage as a water source.

WESTERN CRAWFORD / WCO JOE RUSSELL

Pymatuning Lake- Walleye and perch are still being caught from boats on the South end by jigging sonar's. The numbers are not all that great but the sizes have been averaging 16" to 20". Chanteuse seems to be the color of choice and late afternoon to early evening seems to be the best time frame. Lake levels are still extremely low so if you are boating be extra careful and take a little extra time to get there safe.Conneaut Lake- a fisherman E-mailed me this week to let me know he caught a 44" Muskie while trolling out here this week. I have reports that white bass are still doing well also. This is the time of year to fish this lake because you will probably have the entire lake to yourself.Public Meeting - A public meeting on the possible increase of horsepower on Pymatuning Lake was held on 11/21/2002 with 145 people in attendance. People were given 2 to 3 minutes to stand up and give their opinion on the proposed increase. Open for discussion was the possibility of 25 horsepower, 18 horsepower, or leaving it as it was. The people that stood up and commented numbered 46 with 33 being against any increase at all and 13 for an increase to 25 horsepower. Several individuals represented large groups. West Bay boat sales, Navigation Company boat sales, Keystone Bass Buddies Circuit (600 members), all spoke in favor of the increase. Opposed to the increase were groups such as Muskies Inc. Cleveland chapter (1500 members), Pymatuning Yacht club, Pymatuning Lake association, Shenango boat club, Pymatuning Outboard Motor club, and Century boat club. Several issues were cited for reasons why opinions were formed, people opposed to the increase were worried about increased accidents on the lake, another increase if this one is to go threw, increased erosion, increased noise, and deterioration of the general aesthetics of the lake. People for the increase cited increased safety to get off the lake in a storm, increased revenue to the lake from a wider user group, increased economy in sales, changes in the dynamics of the lake from fishing boats to pontoon boats. Issues raised during the meeting were an inability to contact a ranger (or officer) if a violation is occurring, a need for increased boater safety and education classes, a need for more officers and patrols, and not enforcing current laws by checking for violations of the 10 horsepower limit that currently exist by pulling peoples motors and seeing who has changed their stickers. A question was raised as to how many deaths and accidents had occurred on the lake last year and I reported that there were no deaths and 12 accidents or swampings most of which occurred due to improper loading or overloading. Written comments are being taken up to 11/29/2002 and then all the material will be compiled along with the written transcript from this meeting and that in turn will be presented to the legislators if they are going forward with an increase. If you want to comment you can send me your message and I will print them and take them to the park. My E-mail is fishcop@alltel.net